Easy Goer (USA)
March 21, 1986 – May 12, 1994
Alydar (USA) x Relaxing (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 1-x
March 21, 1986 – May 12, 1994
Alydar (USA) x Relaxing (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 1-x
The best colt bred by Ogden Phipps since the great Buckpasser, Easy Goer might be remembered among the greatest of the great had his underpinnings matched his exceptional talent. As it was, the fluid stride that gave him his name kept him running well after a less athletic horse might have been forced into retirement by injury. A champion at 2, he ran into a buzz saw named Sunday Silence at 3 but nonetheless proved himself one of the best 12-furlong horses seen in years. At stud, he tended to pass on his own bad forelegs but still got some talented runners before his early death.
Race record
20 starts, 14 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$4,873,720
1988:
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Cowdin Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
1989:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD. Belmont)
- Won Woodward Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Gotham Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Swale Stakes (USA-L, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
1990:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Gold Stage Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
Honors
- Saratoga Hoofprints Walk of Fame (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2013)
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1997)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1988)
Assessments
Easy Goer was ranked #34 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century according to an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1988, 1 pound above second-ranked King Glorious.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1989, 1 pound below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Sunday Silence.
Co-highweighted with Sunday Silence at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 1 pound above official divisional champion and Horse of the Year Criminal Type.
Easy Goer was retrospectively awarded a Timeform rating of 137 pounds for his 3-year-old season in 1990, tying him with his arch-rival Sunday Silence for second place among American runners of the 20th century. Only Cigar at 138 pounds was rated higher
As an individual
Easy Goer was a chestnut horse standing 16 hands. He was handsome with a good body but had short, upright pasterns and enlarged ankles. He also had a slightly clubbed foot and turned out on his left knee. His poor foreleg conformation and long stride left him at a disadvantage when tactical speed and agility were needed, though he could unleash a devastating sustained run. His action at racing speed was exceptionally fluid. His regular jockey, Hall of Famer Pat Day, described him as a horse with “a big engine [and] a lot of heart and desire.”
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Easy Goer sired 74 winners (54.4%) and nine stakes winners (6.6%) from 136 named foals. He tended to pass on his foreleg faults.
Notable progeny
Furlough (USA), My Flag (USA), Will's Way (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Astronomer Royal (USA), Corinthian (USA), Funny Moon (USA), Monba (USA), Storm Flag Flying (USA)
Connections
Easy Goer was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. He was trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey. He entered stud at his birthplace, Claiborne Farm, in 1991. In 1994, near the end of his fourth season at stud, he was in his paddock and galloping toward a visitor when he dropped dead without warning. Veterinary autopsy determined the cause of death to be anaphylactic shock. The autopsy revealed that Easy Goer had also been suffering from cancer at the time of his death.
Pedigree notes
Easy Goer is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1988 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cadillacing, dam of 1992 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Strolling Along (by Danzig) and Grade 2 winner Cat Cay (by Pleasant Colony; dam of Grade 2 winner Abaco). He is also a half brother to 1992 Go for Wand Stakes (USA-G1) winner Easy Now (by Danzig). His dam Relaxing, the American champion older female of 1981, was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1989 and is a half sister to A Pretty Smile (by Honest Pleasure), third dam of Grade 3 winner English Affair.
Easy Goer's second dam, Marking Time (by To Market), won the 1966 Acorn Stakes and is out of Allemande (by Counterpoint), a half sister to five stakes winners including 1946 American champion 3-year-old filly Bridal Flower (by Challenger II) and Hall of Fame member Searching (by War Admiral). Allemande is also a half sister to No Fiddling (by King Cole), dam of 1967 American champion handicap female Straight Deal (by Hail to Reason) and second dam of 1966 American champion 2-year-old filly Regal Gleam.
Books and media
- Easy Goer's rivalry with Sunday Silence was featured as the 17th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
- Easy Goer was profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Easy Goer is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Fun facts
- Easy Goer's duel with Sunday Silence in the 1989 Preakness was ranked #70 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
- Easy Goer's time of 1:32-2/5 for the 1989 Gotham Stakes was the fastest ever run by a 3-year-old on dirt.
- Easy Goer earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 116 for the 1988 Champagne Stakes), the highest such figure earned by a 2-year-old up to that time.
- Easy Goer's Beyer Speed Figure of 122 for the 1989 Belmont Stakes remains the highest such figure for a Triple Crown race since Andrew Beyer began releasing his speed figures in 1987.
- At Claiborne, Easy Goer was given the same stall that had belonged to Bold Ruler and Secretariat.
- The Easy Goer Stakes is a listed 8.5 furlong test for 3-year-olds on dirt at Belmont Park. It was inaugurated in 2011.
Last updated: November 11, 2024